Valve device for well conduits



Jan. 3, 1950 R. c. BAKER ETAL VALVE DEVICE FOR WELL CONDUITS Filed Marchi, 194e Patented Jan. 3, 1950 of California' Application March"v 1',1946,.Serial"No. 6512053.i

1T6"Clairr1si` (Cl- 1662-1?) This' invention'. relates" tol wellvapparatus', and" more'-1oarticularl5r to valve'4 devices -forcontrolling uid. ilbw Virr conduits positioned' in" well bores.'

Cntrol" of` the-1 passage' off fluid Withinfa well conduit islsometimes"determined Y by a'- valve ele-'- menti th'at' is'v allowedto"'gravitate, or' be otherwise'i lowere'df through the' conduitA fluid;into' sealing# engagement@ with" a' companionf seating member;` In1someforms-'off'apparatussuch as siiieported casin'gf orf-cementingapparatus,it`

mayA be-A desired* to"y close' the" passage througha'sleeve-i-'valvemember disposed voriginally overv theports* tofJenableu hydraulic" shifting of the sieeve f toNA a3 positinfuncoveringthe ports; per' and'exteri'orof tlfewell xiconduit.

l Oitentimesg'- difficulties 'are' encountered in ob= taininggravitation of thelvalve'member through viscous-1 drilling iluidis'inlthwwelll conduit, or" if triervalve"J member dees gravitatefthroughsuch`- fluids; it'des so=-very=fslwl consumirx'gjvaluable` Where= theevalves member is used ir'r a` multiple"i stage'cementing operation; its"speedy' .ie'scentr into'f-enga'gementwitlia sleeve" valve 'is'liigihlywpreferable; in order toopen th'efportsJ cov'- ered ib'ysvtlfie'- vsleevevalve;` before'th'e 'cementslurry'tha-ttmightiliavebeen-deposited' 'around the ports" in': theflowerstagefr cement/ing' operation' has an Ai furtlierfv disadvantage-v ofthe-1 present gravif tational types of Valve members is theirf'tendency'te'. bounce; 1 bump'fandj gyrate along the-*walls ofthief:condixlts1throughA whichfthey are dropping,

whih'inot :only slows itheir descent 'through f the conduit?. butfrequently damages their' sealing4 surfacesfandxprevents theireflicientf-sealin'gwith: tlievmating'fseat Yin-the sleeve'evalveor"otlfier 'well conduit-Ilmefmber: Another'difliculty in" providing a:propere" lalrproof-f seal-- is encountered* upon' inclination off! the'-gravitational valve "member witlif-respectito `the-*wellj conduitaxis:The v"shape ot1""the2'rvalvef member 'may not' permit "materialdeviation ifrom 1a' coaxial position' in the conduit;andf'stillr'a'llwifrmation' of1a '1eak-proo seal with' iter coengaging'fseat The* requirement': for an' ambient leak-'proof 1 seal underl all4operational conditionssbecomesof utmost' importance* when' ardea'd'colmnofi'ilui'ds' present 'below' a. sleeve:

vali/eon-fwhich thefvalve memberA is* to 'seat, in-

a'smuch asfasslightileaklma'yfpreventitliebuilding?l upcy ofitlie-frequired '-'pressure differential across' the` sleeve* Valve?toi'- ect'i' its shifting" to port open-ings'position; that is; the-r-pressur'esron both sidesfpfthe sleeveva1veandfengaging valvememberbecome substantial-113'equalized preventing" fhydraulieereleasefandfshifting--fof thea former.'

2%' A further objectoitheinvention'is to 'provide awvalve member-whichisnotlonly capable-ofrapid: downward travel through* the well'f fluid,`asV` set' forth above; but'iwli'iohff is also readily drillable 'tofacilitate'its removal from the well c'onduit'iafter' ithas "served itslpurpose l'0i closing the conduit' bore;

Still another* obj e'ctv o'fi'the invention4V is' to'pro-- vide avalvememberf'having'such characteristics" as vto substantialh'frediiceitsl'tendency to bounce;

bump -and gyrat'ealong the' Wall 'of''the 'Well 'con-A duitwhilegravitating'" to its* companion valvev seat in the'y conduit? A furtherobject 'of'1r tlieinventin is to 'provide af; valve -member` capabley of'i making: an efiicient seal against a companion valve seat in awellconduit f irrespective* offtle inclination* of the valve membery'rela-tivetb thee-conduit axis? This 1-inventionllas'other-f'objectslthat will lb'e'- come' apparentfr'omf-aconsideration of'thereinb'cdiinent shown'fin =-the'^^"drawings= accompanying and@frming/` partiof?? the presenti' spe'ciiicatlon;

trate' -the general "f principles vlof fthe invention', but it'is to beunderstood tliatisuclii detailed'de'scrip- Figure lisa'flong-itii'd-ina'l'sectiorr'through a'well casing, 1wfitlftheirvali'erdevice parts" disclosed l in onerelativer-position?Figure 2 is a view-asimil'ar'to Figure'fl;y with theA gravitationalvalv'e''memberin' inclined* position;

The -inventief-1 disclosed? byA way of" example inz: the# drawingsY.-applied' to al string of well casing having-'1' a-f' collar''`lf'connecting 'adjacent upper' and' lower casing-1'v sections' I I I 2 ltogether inspa'ced-relatin. Thisfcollar'has lateral ports I3f` normally"closed by'a'- sleeve valve" III having side seals" I5 engagln'gthei'walloffthe' collaron The' sl'evezvalve is` held in thisclosedpositionmri'ginalli'bvone or The `'sleeve :valve'hasra'fcentralpassage "I I v whose Ward and-`outward"'direction'from am'edial throat'I 9 jto 'form an"inclined'seatingsurface"for a com- Fanion'4valvefmem'ber 201 Tl'feivalve member is.l Y of 'the gravitational'"tvpe': andisdesi'gnedlo dropY downwardly'througl"tlewell casing orconduit into' engagement" with' "tle"'seat I8"`in the sleeve valvey-`i',o"'closl= its"` centiial' passage. Iland allow 60 the pre'ssureof theilid the casing' above 3 the valve member and sleeve valve Ato beincreased sufficiently for the purpose of shearing the screws I6 andshifting the sleeve valve member I4 downwardly to port opening position,as determined by abutting of the lower end I4a of the sleevel with asuitable stop, which may be the upper pin end I2a of the lower adjacentcasing section I2. With the ports I3 in this position, fluid may becirculated from the-interior of the well casing, through the open portsto the casing exterior.

The gravitational type of valve member includes a hollow body 2| ofgenerally tear drop, streamlined shape, filled either completely orpartially with a relatively dense weighting material 22, such as lead ormercury. The forward or nose end 23 of the body is of spherical shape,with a spherical seal 24 of rubber or other elastic material mounted onit. As disclosed in the drawings, the nose 23 of the body has ahemispherical surface 23a adjacent an external body groove 25, the seal24 also being hemispherical and merging into an upper rim 26 ofcylindrical exterior having an internal flange 21 positioned within thebody groove. Actually, the seal 24 is made slightly smaller than theforward end 23 of the body,V in order to be stretched over the latterand obtain secure andsnug engagement between the contacting sphericalsurfaces and between the flange 21 and surfaces defining the body groove25.

The rearward portion 28 of the body is generally conical or conoidal inshape, converging gradually from the nose portion 23. Stabilizing ns orvanes 29 are disposed at the rear end of the body and are generallyradial of the body to prevent gyration of the valve member as it isdropping through the wellY conduit.

The outer spherical surface 24a of the ,valve member seal 2,4 is of sucha diameter with respect to its coengaging seat I8 in the sleeve valve asto make a continuous circular seal therewith,V

which is completely leak-proof regardless of the position ofinclinationrthat might be assumed by the valve member 20 relative to theconduit and sleeve axis. The valve member is made sufficiently long withrespect to the external diameter of the sealing surface 24a of the sealthat, when engaged on'the sleeve valve seat I8 with the ns 29 disposedagainst the wall of the conduit, the outer spherical surface 4'24a ofthe seal still makes a complete circular seal with the inclined seatingsurface of the sleeve valve. As shown in the drawings, the length of thevalve member is about three times the external diameter of the seal, butthis Vproportion may be altered, depending upon the inside diameter ofthe casing in which the member is used, the external radius of the seal24, and the extent of lateral projection of the ns 29, which areillustrated as extending outwardly from the axis of the body about thesame distance as the radius of the external sealing surface 24a.

`As shown in the drawings, when the valve member 20 engages its seat I8in coaxial position, a uniform,l circular elastic seal is made with theseat, and leakage therebetween cannot occur (see Figure 1). Uponinclination of the valve member with respect to the axis to its fullestextent, as when the ns 29 are engaging the wall of the casing (seeFigures 2 and 3), the spherical surface 24a is still making a completecircular seal with the seat of the valve member, having merely rotatedseveral degrees about its center 24h. As a result of the spherical seatcontacting surface 24a, various degrees of inclination of the valvemember with respect to the axis of the conduit and sleeve valve stillproduce an eflicient seal that is leak-proof in all respects. Theleakproof characteristic is materially enhanced by the rubber or otherelastic material of which the seal 2li is made, which makes it conformwith minor irregularities or depressions that might be found in theseating surface I8 of the sleeve valve I4. Moreover, it is to be notedthat the radius of the exterior of the body nose 23 itself is greaterthan the radius of the sleeve throat I9, to insure compression oftheelastic sealing material between the body 2I and sleeve I4 uponimposition of pressure on the body, and to forestall potentialdissipation of the seal by hydraulic pressure action thereupon, whichmight occur if the bodynose radius were less than the throat radius, andthus allowed a substantial annular space through which the seal materialcould be blown.

The descent of the valve member 28 through the fluid in a well conduitis accelerated substantially by use of the body '2| containing ktheheavy lead or other weighting material 22. lIt is to be noted that mostof the weighting material isin the leading portion of the body, whichmaintains its center of gravity closer to the spherical seal 24 andfacilitates dropping of the valve member in a straight line through theWell conduit. Such straight line dropping is assisted by the gyrationpreventing action of the stabilizing ns 29 while the valve member isgravitating through the casing uid.

The lead weighting material 22 adds substantially to the gravitationalforce available in moving the valve member downwardly through the fluidin the well conduit, since it adds more weight per unit of frontal areaof the valve member displacing the uid to one side. Such descent orgravitation of the valve member is further enhanced by the tear drop orstreamlined shape of its body, which allows a minimum of fluid eddyingor drag on the valve member, and insures smooth streamlined uid flowthereover as the valve member passes downwardly through the casingr uid.

The hollow body 2l of the valve member is made of a suitable, rigid,drillable material, such as magnesium alloy or aluminum. This body has arelatively thin section to permit the use of a maximum amount of leadweighting substance 22. The use of a substancelike magnesium alloy oraluminum for the body 2l provides a material capable of resisting'muchmore marring or deformation than the lead material itself, and retainsthe entire valve device in its initial undeformed condition during itsdescent through the well conduit into engagement with the sleeve valve.The use of lead, or a similar pliant material, alone for the entirevalve member would subject it to substantial deformation during downwarddescent through the well casing, and possibly result in its failure toseal properly with its mating valve seat. However, by combining f thetwo materials, namely, an envelope 2I of rigid and nondeformablemagnesium alloy or aluminum lled with an internal weight of lead or`similar substance 22, the gravitational advantages of the lead arestained while its deformation Ydisadvantage is eliminated.

In the use of the arrangement disclosed forY multiple stage cementingpurposes, let it be assumed that cement slurry has been displaced fromthe well conduit at some point below the collar I0, as through a casingshoe (not shown).

amg/sbo :55 l` Thereafterjthe valve member 20 is droppedxfrom fthe top,vof .thef-well *bore :through :the well .econr4duit'andAdescen'dsaspeedily .into engagement with the valve .seatrl to@ allowfluid Y'pressure to vbe ."ibuiltupfor the purposeifofsrshearingvthescrews vI6 :and `shifting'rthe `valve f t4 downwardly kto port openingposition. Such Arapid travel v:insures opening-tof the .ports -I 3 rprior .to 'the 4'tirn'e'"th`at any cement slurry, whichi1=imay t havebeen. rdeposited aroundfthef.ports:1byfthe lower stage cementingioperation;,hayan-.opportunity of taking an initial set. This portenclosing slurry, which is still in a plastic 'statefwhenftheports areopened, -,can-abe.,.circulated readilyjfrom ,the :annulus yaround thecasing by pumping-rluidfdown the casing and out of the ports. l

Ordinarily, inthe performance ofmultiple stage cementing operations, thevfluid below the-zupp'er stagezcollar is a dead,substantiallyincompressible column after the lower stageahasbeencemented. The making of an eflioient seal under fall condi- :tions4'between the valve member 2B and :thefsleeve 'valve ..If4 thus becomesof Aparamount importance, .-si-nce :evena'slight degree ofi-leakagewould equal- .ize theepressures on both sides `oi the sleeve valve andpreclude shearing-ofthe screws l5, which,fof course," would Avprevent openingfof tl'iefip'orts:i |33. By :applica-nts arrangement, an:eicient'se'al-is 4obtainedvgandport opening assured.

Although described in conjunction with a sleeve valve for controllinglateral ports in a well conduit, the valve member has other uses. Forexample, it could be employed as a bridging member to close the borethrough the well conduit by engaging an immovable seat therein.

After the cementing operation has taken place and the cement hashardened, it is usual practice to drill out internal casingobstructions. The running of a drill bit in the casing to the positionof the valve member 2l) and sleeve I4, and the drilling out of these twomembers7 can take place very readily, since they are all made of readilydrillable materials.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including ahollow impermeable body of generally tear drop shape having a sphericalnose portion and stabilizing fins on its tail portion, and a weightingmaterial in said hollow body having a greater specific gravity than thematerial of said body.

2. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including ahollow impact resisting body having a forward portion whose outersurface is a segment of a sphere and a rearward portion converginggradually from said forward portion, and a weighting material in saidhollow body having a much greater speciiic gravity than the material ofsaid body.

3. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including ahollow body of readily drillable material having a generally sphericalforward portion and a rearward conoidal portion converging graduallyfrom said forward portion, a unitary readily drillable weightingmaterial in said hollow body having a much greater specific gravity thansaid body material, and radial ns secured to and extending from saidrearward portion.

4. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including arigid, non-deformable hollow body having a generally spherical valveseating surface thereon and a hollow portion extending longitudinallyfrom said surface, and a weighting 1 6 '.--lmalterialT in: saidihollowfbody izsubstantiallyicom'- pletelyallingsaid.longitudinallyextendinglhollow fiportionandihavingagreaterspecic gravity than thematerial of said body.

5. .A'valvedevicefor gravitation through a' well Lconduit, includingarigid,frnon-deformable1'hollow bddy'vof I`readilyv'drillablef'fmaterial:having a valve seatingsurface f thereon :and a hollow `.portion ex--tending longitudinally from said surfaceg-andfa .readily drillableweighting material filling `said I-zhollow body, .includinglsaidlongitudinally extending hollow portiongfand Yhaving1amuch"gr.eater.fspecicfgravity thanthematerialof said body..

166. Aova'lve deviceffor use "ina well conduit, .including axrigidfbodyof .readily ldrillable mate- `rial-having afspherical noserportionand acircular :groove 'adj acentsaid porti'on, 'said 'body further :includinga longitudinally `extending portion :converging ,gradually'from' saidnose portion, and fan elastic spherical'-'fsealfniountedv on saidbody-"1in snug engagement with said spherical nose *.port-ion and'merging :smoothly into .said 'longitudinally 'extending portion,saidfseal having a flange-positioned vwithin said groove.

y =7..-A valvefdevcefor :use iin a wellmconduit, including a r-hollovvfbody having' a :spherical-:ror- Ward portion and a rearward conoidal.portion merging substantiallyinto and lcon-verging grad-.uallyrfromsaid forward fportion, afiveighting material in said hollowbody having a much greater specic gravity than the material of saidbody, and an elastic spherical seal on said spherical forward portion.

8. A valve device for use in a well conduit, including a hollow body ofreadily drillable material having a spherical forward portion and arearward conoidal portion converging gradually from said forwardportion, said body also having a circular groove adjacent said forwardand rearward portions, an elastic spherical seal mounted on said body insnug engagement with said spherical forward portion, said seal having aange positioned within said groove, and a readily drillable weightingmaterial in said hollow body if having a much greater specic gravitythan said body material.

9. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including ahollow body of generally tear drop shape having a spherical nose portionand stabilizing iins on its tail portion, a weighting material in saidhollow body having a greater specific gravity than the material of saidbody, and an elastic spherical seal on said nose portion.

l0. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including ahollow body of readily drillable material having a generally sphericalforward portion and a rearward conoidal portion converging graduallyfrom said forward portion, a readily drillable weighting material insaid hollow body having a much greater specific gravity than said bodymaterial, and an elastic spherical seal on said forward portion.

1l. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including ahollow body of readily drillable material having a valve seating surfaceAtudinally from said surface, and a Aweighting material insaid hollowbody and its hollow portion having a greater specific gravity than thematerial of said body.

13. A valve device for gravitation through a low portion and having agreater specific gravity Vthan the material of said body.

14'. A valve device for gravitation through a well conduit, including arigid, non-deformable bodyvof readily drillable material having a valveseating surface thereon anda hollow portion extending'longitudinallyfrom said surface, and a readilydrillable weighting material fillingsaid hollow portion and having a much greater specic gravity than thematerial of said body.

15. A valve device for use in a well conduit, including a body having aspherical forward portion and a rearward conoidal portion converginggradually from said forward portion, and an elastic spherical seal onsaid spherical forward portion merging smoothly into said conoidalportion. Y

16. A valve device for use in a well conduit, including a body ofreadily drillable material having a spherical forward portion andarearward conoidal portion converging gradually from said forwardportion, said body also having a circular groove adjacent said forwardand rearward por- .tions, an elastic spherical seal mounted on said bodyin snug engagement with said spherical forward portion and mergingsmoothly into said conoidal portion, said seal having a flangepositioned within said groove.

REUBEN C. BAKER. WILLIAM S. ALTHOUSE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED YThe following references areof record in the

